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United Nations in South Africa Insight

InsightVolUme 1 | ISSUe 2 | SePTemBeR 2009

United Nations in South Africa

F ollowing a frank and open discussion between the United Nations in South Africa and the

Government of South Africa, the two sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation by stepping up projects designed to improve the lives of South Africans.

The discussions were part of a two-day workshop held in Pretoria from 25-26 August. The workshop provided the two partners with a unique opportunity to review progress achieved thus far in implementing UN-supported projects in South Africa under a mechanism known as the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The current framework covers the period 2007 to 2010.

In the discussions that ensued, the partners acknowledged the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness

and the importance of aligning UN assistance to the national development priorities of South Africa. They noted progress made since the inception of the current UNDAF, but also recognized that greater efforts were needed to achieve results in other areas. This was particularly so in developing and implementing joint projects by both the Government and the United Nations.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the level of cooperation shown in meeting South Africa’s development needs. But what was also refreshing was their readiness to own up to the challenges confronting them as they complete the current development cycle and prepare for the next UNDAF which will cover the three-year period to 2014. The next cycle of the UNDAF was deliberately set to coincide with the Government’s Vision

2014 whose main aim is to improve the quality of life of all South Africans.

The partners agreed to set up a small group of representatives to coordinate cooperation between them and to spearhead the identification of common areas of interest.

The workshop brought together representatives of all UN agencies, programmes and funds based in South Africa and Government representatives of the various ministries.

The UN delegation was led by the outgoing UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Dr. Stella Anyangwe, and Ms. Elaine Venter, a Director in the National Treasury, headed the Government of South Africa delegation. The incoming Resident Coordinator for South Africa, Dr. Agostinho Zacharias, also attended the workshop in an informal capacity.

UN and Government of South Africa pledge to strengthen cooperation

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Survey highlights migrant needs

Investing in women and girls

Swine flu update

P10 Mandela Day celebrated

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I n this second issue of the United Nations in South Africa (UNSA) Insight newsletter, we devote considerable space to the

work being done by UN agencies in South Africa. While we have published the update on Influenza A (H1N1) on page 8, this by no means lessen the severity of the virus and the toll it is having on the South African public.

When we published our inaugural issue in June this year, there were no confirmed cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in Africa. At the time of writing, the virus had finally arrived in Africa, and spreading at an alarming rate, particularly in South Africa.

At the time of writing, South Africa had reported a death toll of more than 40 and more than 11,000 confirmed cases of infection. Most of the confirmed deaths were of pregnant women and people with compromised immunities or prior health complications.

The Department of Health has warned citizens to rest at home when slight symptoms of flu appear, and to consult a doctor if the symptoms are moderate to severe. A countrywide awareness campaign is now in full swing complete with a telephone hot line that people can call for information and assistance. The Hotline is: 0861-364-232 (0861-DOH-CDC) and the dedicated email is: [email protected].

As the Influenza A (H1N1) update in this issue shows, although Africa was the last continent to be affected by the pandemic, it may become the most severely affected

RC’s Corner

Stella C. ANYANGWE, MD, PhD UN Resident Coordinator, a.i. South Africa

continent because of its weak capacity to cope. The onset of the pandemic in South Africa coincided with the tail end of seasonal flu period. Despite this, the virus is already having a huge strain on the country’s laboratory facilities as people rush to get tested on the slightest symptoms of flu.

Also in this newsletter are stories on the various activities and projects being carried out by UN agencies. We highlight the plight of migrants who flock daily into South Africa especially from neighbouring Zimbabwe and the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in collaboration with some UN agencies on how to deal with the aftermath of attacks against foreigners.

We also report on the recent Junior 8 Summit, the annual youth summit parallel to the G8 that was held in Italy and attended by four representatives from South Africa. Other stories include the importance of investing in women as part of “cost-effective and smart economics”, efforts by local businesspeople to find solutions to climate change and telefood projects for the people of Pretoria as well as plans for combating human trafficking and HIV/AIDS.

Calendar of Upcoming Events18 September: • Seminar on the International Day of Peace hosted by the University of Pretoria with Message of the Secretary-General delivered by the UNIC Director21 September: SMS campaign by MTN to commemorate the • United Nations International Day of Peace24 September: • Sunnyside Shines fun day sponsored by UNISA, the City of Tshwane and UNHCR commemorating Heritage Day at Sunnyside Primary School4 –10 October: • Human Trafficking Awareness Week 2009 15 –19 October: • International Finals of the South African Model United Nations Debate Competition for high schools on Robben Island16 October: Commemoration of • World Food Day by FAO in Limpompo Province16 –18 October: • Stand Up Against Poverty campaign in conjunction with the South African Rugby Union and the Premier Soccer League24 October: Commemoration of • United Nations Day 29 November: • United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People commemoration25 November–10 December: • 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women1 December: Outreach event to mark • World AIDS Day10 December: • International Human Rights Day

ContactUnited Nations Information CentreMetro Park Building351 Schoeman StreetPretoria, South Africa 0001

tel: +27 12 354 8503/5/7fax: +27 12 354 8501web: www.un.org.zaem: [email protected]

PublisherThe Office of the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Communications Group of South Africa

EditorialUnited Nations Information Centre(UNIC) Pretoria

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Volume 1 | Issue 2 | September 2009 3


A new survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the needs and vulnerabilities of

undocumented migrants in South Africa’s Limpopo province has called for urgent humanitarian assistance for vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors, women and victims of sexual and gender-based violence and other crimes.

The survey, based on field assessments conducted by IOM between February and March 2009 in and around the northern town of Musina, finds that economic desperation and lack of options at home are forcing tens of thousands of people to engage in perilous journeys through treacherous border areas, to jump or crawl under border fences or wade across the Limpopo River using unscrupulous intermediaries who regularly abuse them.

It underlines that many migrants, especially unaccompanied minors and women, face brutalities and gender-based violence at the hands of their smugglers who act with impunity and with little or no fear of prosecution from the authorities.

As part of the survey, which was funded by the US State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration, IOM interviewed 214 unaccompanied minors, 75 percent of whom were boys. The research suggests that one of the major motivating factors for children to migrate is family reunification or family breakdown. Eighteen percent of the interviewees said they experienced violence or robbery along their journey and showed signs of deep psychological trauma from the horrendous experiences they went through during the migration process.

The survey details the story of migrants who sustained injuries from crawling under razor wire fences to enter South Africa and of woman who experienced multiple sexual assaults. In most cases, victims said they were not aware of existing health facilities or that they simply wanted to continue their journey to Johannesburg without interruption.

The survey finds that 84 percent of the 1,128 respondents cited economic reasons or lack of employment opportunities as reasons for leaving their homes, while 6 percent said they had left their homes out of fear of political, religious or ethnic persecution.

Many respondents said they regularly travelled back and forth between Zimbabwe and South Africa, particularly cross-border traders and farm-workers.

Of all the respondents, farm workers reported the highest earning and remittance levels, with 94 percent in possession of a work permit. However, many continued to travel clandestinely to and from the country; with 45 percent entering South Africa through the same border post.

"There is little social perspective for people entering South Africa as undocumented migrants,” says IOM’s Yukiko Kumashiro. “Many are literally living from hand to mouth, often depending on help from well-wishers and NGOs to sustain their livelihoods."

Musina, which is located some 11 kms from the Zimbabwean border, has experienced an influx of mostly Zimbabwean migrants and asylum-seekers who transit the Limpopo province to travel to cities such as Johannesburg.

The survey recommends setting up counselling and support services for migrants who have experienced violence and trauma during the migration process, especially for women and unaccompanied minors. Such services should be extended beyond the town of Musina to Makhado and to private farms where significant numbers of migrants are employed.

Similarly, family tracing and reunification of unaccompanied minors within South Africa and Zimbabwe should be strengthened.

IOM is providing humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwean migrants in the Limpopo province, with a focus on vulnerable undocumented migrants, informal cross-border traders, unaccompanied minors, victims of human trafficking, of sexual and gender-based violence and migrant workers on commercial farms and mines.

This includes providing food and non-food assistance, legal counselling and family tracing and reunification services. IOM also carries out awareness-raising activities on safe migration and supports migrants’ shelters.

IOM survey highlights migrants’ needs and vulnerabilitiesIOM Many are literally living from hand to

mouth, often depending on help from well-wishers and NGOs to sustain their livelihoods

Lerato Maduna/IOM

4 Volume 1 | Issue 2 | September 2009

R esidents of a sprawling informal settlement outside Pretoria, responded to an appeal for

community action on Mandela Day with a heartfelt apology to refugees and migrants they had victimized during a wave of xenophobic attacks last year.

The spur to addressing the violence was an appeal on Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday on 18 July – the nation's first Mandela Day – to carry out 67 minutes of goodwill, symbolizing the 67 years he worked for democracy. Residents issued an open invitation to refugees driven out in May 2008 to return to the community.

Jeffsville Informal Settlement is one of thousands in South Africa accommodating swathes of the country's unemployed that have mushroomed since the end of apartheid in 1994 – zinc and wooden structures on the periphery of the country's urban centres where occupants huddle together in the hope of eventually securing decent employment and a better life.

Newly arrived refugees and migrants have little choice but to move into poor communities, but their ability to generate income in the economically depressed environment hasn't gone down well. It was only a matter of time before they fell victim to the community's anger and frustration at the non-delivery of basic services such as housing, safe water and proper sanitation.

Jeffsville became notorious as the community that mounted the first organized assault against refugees and migrants, the start of weeks of frenzied xenophobic attacks that tarnished South Africa's image.

As part of its 2009 public awareness and

community mobilization strategy, UNHCR and the Refugee Care and Development Agency (RCDA), a community-based organization, conducted several outreach initiatives in Jeffsville and neighbouring Atteridgeville prior to World Refugee Day. Initially they met stiff resistance.

"We wouldn't entertain any notion that refugees and migrants weren't to blame for our economic hardship," recalls Ernest Tshavhuyo, secretary of the Jeffsville branch of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and a respected leader in the settlement. He was among the detractors on the first day of the initiatives.

"After an hour discussing issues back and forth, I began feeling great discomfit in my heart about what had happened here. It wasn't right and our actions as a community left a bitter taste in my mouth."

Tshavhuyo is descended from Zimbabwean migrant workers who, in much the same way as migrants who'd taken up residence in his community, came to South Africa seeking better economic opportunities. As he began questioning his rejection of people who did what his forefathers had also done, the burden of guilt and discomfit about his community's behaviour spurred him to action.

Tshavhuyo offered his services and that of the ANC to UNHCR, RCDA and the Somali Association of South Africa (SASA). Through his intervention, UNHCR and its partners were able to safely penetrate the communities of Jeffsville and Atteridgeville with awareness activities promoting tolerance among the locals for their foreign neighbours.

"This was a man who had a strong desire to right a wrong that had been

committed in the community," says Abdul Hassen, Pretoria chairperson of SASA. "I'm glad he got the opportunity to say what was in his heart on World Refugee Day and again on Mandela Day." In front of some 300 residents, Tshavhuyo took the podium on Saturday and, on behalf of the community, implored the refugees' forgiveness for their actions.

According to Achmat Dangor, the head of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF), the former president had requested that the Foundation stimulate dialogue, particularly between people whose disagreements have the potential to destabilize society. Jeffsville was a prime example of the lack of social cohesion in South African communities.

Through trained facilitators, community members are encouraged to explore issues affecting their lives, on their own terms and in their own languages. In this manner, dialogue has the potential to improve relations between members of communities. The residents of Jeffsville have taken the first step.

"Working with the UNHCR, NMF, and SASA has been like being part of a big family of different nationalities," says Tshavhuyo. "All the organizations were determined to address the issue of xenophobia and I began feeling like I was participating in something good. It is something I want to continue doing."

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and Ernest has taken it," says Hassen, whose Somali compatriots have suffered greatly from xenophobia and crime in South Africa. "I have certainly accepted his apology."By Pumla Rulashe in Jeffsville Informal Settlement, South Africa

Mandela Day appeal draws apology for xenophobic attacks in South AfricaUNHCR

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F or four days, Italy was abuzz with not only the presence of world leaders gathering for the Group of 8 (G8)

Summit, but also with the brightest and smartest of the world’s youth attending the Junior 8 (J8) Summit.

The J8 is an annual youth summit, parallel to the G8 that brings together junior delegates from both the G8 and G5 countries to give their views on some of the key issues being discussed at the G8 meeting, with the intention of presenting a Declaration to world leaders at the end of the summit.

Yumnah Jackson from Cape Town, Refilwe Tsumane from Kuruman, Northern Cape, Richmond Sajini from Alexanderbaai, Northern Cape and Aletta Dhlamini from Kroonstad in the Free State represented South Africa, and the African continent, at this year’s summit, which was held from 6-10 July in the Italian city of L’Aquila.

These young leaders formed part of working groups which tackled the issues of climate change, children’s rights in the context of the financial crisis and poverty and development in Africa. The junior delegates were also given the opportunity to choose one additional topic and, after much deliberation, they chose education based on their firm belief that quality education for all is the key to

addressing many of the challenges presented by global warming and HIV and AIDS.

After three gruelling days of working groups and lengthy discussions, the 2009 Junior 8 Declaration was completed and each delegation chose a representative who would be one of 14 children granted the chance of a lifetime to travel L’Aquila to meet world leaders and present to the Declaration. The South African team selected Richmond for this prestigious role, and this charismatic and eloquent young man met with Presidents Jacob Zuma and Barrack Obama amongst others.

At the end of the week the J8 delegates took part in a cultural evening. Yumnah recalled that it was the event she enjoyed the most. “To me this event stood out a lot because I got to learn about other cultures and other beliefs and that information for me was enriching,” he said. The South African team was also invited to a dinner at the South African Embassy hosted by the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

Upon their return to South Africa the four delegates met with UNICEF Celebrity Advocate and lead singer of Malaika, Tshedi Mholo, participated in a number of media interviews and produced audio packages of their experiences with the Children’s Radio Workshop. These have been aired on public radio station, SAFM, over the past few weeks.

A highlight of the media engagements was Richmond’s appearance on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) 2’s Morning Live show, where he represented the team and spoke about the experiences during the J8.

The young people are now tasked with implementing the resolutions from the Junior 8 summit and their respective work plans, in their schools and communities. With the support of UNICEF and the Department of Education, the hope is that they would be able to mobilize other South African children with their positive messages and energy.

“In our action plan we said that we want to create awareness on all the issues we discussed. I intend on sharing my experience and also teaching others about the topics through presentations”, declared Richmond in a report about his experiences.

SA’s J8 stars return from Rome eager to tackle challengesUNICEF

Aletta and Yumnah during one of the J8 sessions

All the South African delegates with UNICeF Celebrity Advocate, Tshedimholo, upon their return to South Africa

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T here has been progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over

the past year and many successes on which to build, according to the 2009 MDGs report.

The report, which was launched by the United Nations in July in Johannesburg as part of the global launch, is an annual assessment of progress towards the MDGs. It however, also showed that when one looks at the quantitative benchmarks established in 2000, progress has been too slow for most of the targets to be met by 2015.

And to compound the daunting task of achieving the MDGs, the world today is confronted with a global economic crisis whose full repercussions have yet to be felt. Although data are not yet available to reveal the full impact of the recent economic downturn, they point to areas where progress has slowed or reversed.

The report portrays the remarkable advances that many countries and regions had made before the economic landscape changed so radically in 2008. For example, between 1990 and 2005, the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day decreased from 1.8 billion to 1.4 billion. However, there is evidence the major advances in the fight against extreme poverty are likely to have stalled.

In 2009, an estimated 55 million to 90 million more people will be living in extreme poverty than anticipated before the crisis.

The UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Dr. Stella Anyangwe, presided over the South African launch, with economic specialists from the UN Development Programme, Mr. Osten Chulu and Mr. Ayodele Odusola, giving their assessments on the state of progress in Africa.

UN

A special UNESCO-funded teacher training initiative in South Africa has brought together the universities of

Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal to train teachers in the small rural town of Tugela Ferry in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Under the pilot project started in June this year, UNESCO has trained 24 teachers from Lobethal Independent School in Tugela Ferry in information and communication technology literacy. The training covers

competency courses in basic office applications and how to use information technology to support teachers in their day-to-day work.

The Department of Informatics at the University of Pretoria, assisted by the Department of Information Systems and Technology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal offered the courses.

Tugela Ferry, the administrative and business centre of the Msinga district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a small rural village on the Tugela River roughly midway between the Indian Ocean and the

Drakensberg. The area has been identified as one of the most economically disadvantaged communities in South Africa and therefore in need of development assistance.

According to the project leader, Mr. Kirstin Krauss, it was the responsibility of academics to combine information and communications technology research and teaching to support community development. The project is specifically tailored to empower teachers in local communities to help them improve work performance and ultimately reach the community as a whole.

“Several lessons were learned and additional initiatives started”, said Mr. Krauss, adding that part of the course included a train-the-trainer initiative under which teachers who successfully completed the course were trained to assist in facilitating future courses.

This initiative is guided by UNESCO’s policy on ICT competency standards for teachers which advocates knowledge creation, acquisition and sharing in the field of education.

South Africa Launches Millennium Development Goals 2009 Report

University of Pretoria & UNESCO partner in a teacher training project in practical ICT literacyUNESCO


I nvesting in women and girls during the current global financial crisis will help set the stage for economic recovery and

reduce inequality and poverty, says Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

In her statement marking the 20th commemoration of the World Population Day, which fell on 11 July, Ms. Obaid said there was “no smarter investment in troubled times.” Women and girls were the majority of the world’s poor, even before the current financial crisis, she said, adding that now there were “falling deeper into poverty and face increased health risks, especially if they are pregnant.” The UNFPA head appealed to world leaders to make the health and rights of women a political and development priority.

In developing countries, women’s health has critical economic importance. Women

make more than half the agricultural labour force and they grow about 80 per cent of staple crops in Africa.

Investing in reproductive health is especially cost-effective, noted Ms. Obaid, adding, as an example, “an investment in contraceptive services can be recouped four times over –and sometimes dramatically more over the long term – by reducing the need for public spending on health, education and other social services.”

In a separate statement, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on decision-makers to “protect women’s ability to earn income, keep their daughters in school, and obtain reproductive health

information and services, including voluntary family planning.

Mr. Ban called on the world to “advance the rights of women and girls, and empower them as highly productive members of society capable of contributing to economic recovery and growth.”

Since 1990, governments and their national partners have been marking World Population Day with a variety of activities and events focusing on the importance of population to overall development strategies. This year’s 20th anniversary of the Day coincided with the 40th anniversary of UNFPA and the 15th anniversary of the historic International Conference on Population and Development that guides UNFPA’s work.

The World Population Day was also commemorated in South Africa, with the national event focusing on how the global economic meltdown was affecting the poorest and most vulnerable, especially around their reproductive health, economic and rights issues. UNFPA marked the event at the University of Western Cape in partnership with the Department of Social Development, the Ministry for Women, Youth Children and People with Disabilities.

The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, delivered the keynote address. Other statements came from the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Development, Yolanda Botha, and the UNFPA South Africa Deputy Representative, Mark Bryan Schreiner.For more information: mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Deputy Representative/oIC ([email protected])

Investing in women and girls is “cost-effective and smart economics”UNFPA

UNFPA is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

advance the rights of women and girls, and empower them as

highly productive members of society capable of contributing to economic recovery and growth



Agostinho ZacariasMr. Agostinho Zacarias is the new United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for South Africa. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Zacarias held the same positions in Zimbabwe. A national of Mozambique, Mr. Zacarias taught

International Relations and African Politics at the London School of Economics, University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa and the Higher Institute of International Relations, Mozambique.

Marie-Evelyne Petrus-BarryMs. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, a national of Gouadeloupe, is the new UNIC Director. She previously was Regional Representative and the Director for the Centre of Human Rights and Democracy for Central Africa in the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human

Rights based in Cameroon. Ms. Petrus-Barry has a Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies, Civilisations Africaines Anglophones, from the Sorbonne.

Appointments

A s Influenza A (H1N1) continues to take its toll in South Africa, the country’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has warned that although Africa was the last continent to be affected by the

pandemic, it may become the most severely affected region.At the latest count, there were more than 11,000 South Africans

affected by Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 and more than 40 reported deaths.

Speaking at a World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on the virus held in Johannesburg in August, Dr. Motsoaledi said it was well-known that Africa had always been worst affected by any outbreak of a communicable disease – whether it was HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria or hemorrhagic fever.

"It is therefore essential for all countries within the continent to ensure that we are adequately prepared for all of these but in the present context prepared to deal with the influenza pandemic. "What is of advantage for us is that we can learn from the experiences of others," he said.

Dr. Motsoaledi pointed out that after it became clear globally that containing the virus was not possible, it became more effective to mitigate its effects.

Besides the social disruptions, of particular importance to Africa was the additional strain on health staff, hospital beds, laboratories and resources.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has set up an Influenza A (H1N1) Hotline to which the public can call to request information. Dedicated email: [email protected]; Hotline: 0861-364-232 (0861-DOH-CDC).

Swine flu update

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FAO Country Representative, Ms. Rosebud V. Kurunjila presents farming equipment to the Tivhuxeni Vhavhasati cooperative



T he United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has signed a Partnership

Declaration with South African business leaders and the eThekwini Municipality on climate change mitigation and adaption. The declaration is the first of its kind directly involving a local municipality in Africa.

The main objectives of the Partnership Declaration are to disseminate the latest findings on the science of climate change and its impact at the national, provincial and international levels; to introduce best practices and perspectives; to understand how South African businesses are dealing with climate change; and to determine how organisations can play a role in addressing challenges posed by climate change.

The signing of the declaration was part of the proceedings of the conference

on “Climate Change Summit – Industry’s Green Growth Day” held in the South African resort city of Durban, hosted by UNIDO, the Durban Investment Promotion Agency and the National Business Initiative and supported by the Durban Industry Climate Change Partnership Project. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the expected effects of climate change, the challenges and risks it presents and the opportunities that are available to the private sector in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The Durban Industry Climate Change Partnership Project, which will run for a year until June 2010, is designed to create a mechanism for the city’s industry to respond to climate change risks and opportunities. It will be implemented by UNIDO in partnership with the Durban Investment Promotion Agency, the eThekwini Municipality and the Durban Chamber of Industry.

The project will also focus on creating the tools needed to drive and monitor industry climate change responses in the city. This will be achieved by working with the ‘Durban Climate Change Partnership’ and organised business to ensure that the relevant structure is established and is capable to coordinate the response of the industry to climate change.

The project is expected to ultimately result in setting up a forum for industry to meet regularly to discuss climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. The forum will facilitate investment and technology transfer between Durban and China, which is also part of the project, and, once established, to hold regular meetings with government and other interested parties.

Additional information about the project will be available through the following websites: http://durbanportal.net or www.unido.org

UNIDO and business leaders sign declaration on climate changeUNIDO

One seed for a big harvest: small projects that make a difference

T he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently launched two TeleFood projects

in Soshanguve, a suburb just outside Pretoria. TeleFood is a programme funded by FAO to help poor people free themselves from the daily struggles of getting enough food.

FAO Country Representative Rosebud Kurwijila launched the two projects in the presence of Gauteng provincial authorities.

Emotions ran high as Tivhuxeni Vhavhasati, a vegetable cooperative, in Soshanguve South received farming

equipment worth more than R70, 000. Kutlwano Vegetable Cooperative in Soshanguve North also received equipment with an estimated cost of R133, 000.

TeleFood micro-projects such as these enable farmers and communities with limited or no investment capacity to access the most essential production items such as basic tools, materials and agricultural inputs. They also help small-scale farmers raise livestock and fish, process food and assist them sell food surpluses at an affordable prices to local communities. TeleFood projects also enable communities to acquire necessary skills in agriculture.

FAO



T he United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Pretoria has agreed to help mobilize support

for the ideals that former President Nelson Mandela is championing by publicizing activities that support the creation of an official Mandela Day. The Day is to be commemorated annually on 18 July, which is Mandela’s birthday. This followed earlier discussions between the UNIC Pretoria and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in July.

According to the Mandela Foundation, the purpose of calling on the world to observe Mandela Day is that it would be an opportunity for the people around the world, particularly in troubled areas, to use the Day to do something good or meaningful for the society.

To this end, UNIC Pretoria will share information with the Foundation and assist in disseminating its material that is also relevant to UNIC’s mandate. UNIC Pretoria will further promote the Day by enlisting the support of other UNICs around the world, particularly those in Sub-Saharan

Africa, to disseminate information from the Foundation to their local constituencies who could also have special events related to their specific mandates.

UNIC Pretoria also plans to encourage UN agencies in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa to dedicate 67 minutes of their time on Mandela Day by holding official functions around projects that promote the common good in connection to their respective mandates (governance, humanitarian assistance, development, human rights, social justice, inclusive political dialogue, gender, people living with disabilities, etc).

As part of its commitment to support the Day, UNIC agreed to participate in events organized by the Foundation and to encourage the participation of other UN agencies in South Africa. To this end, UNIC Pretoria, along with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights accepted invitations to participate in the inaugural Mandela Day activities commemoration held in Johannesburg on 18 July and hosted by the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Service for the city’s homeless and the destitute.

UNIC Pretoria Director Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry told more than 600 people gathered at the commemoration that most of the ideals being promoted by the Mandela Day also coincide with the issues with which the UN is grappling, including human rights, economic and social justice, gender, xenophobia, racism, and HIV/AIDS.

UNIC Pretoria pledges to help promote Mandela Day ideals

UNIC

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Ms. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, UNIC Pretoria Director delivering a speech at the commemoration

A cross-section of the audience present at the commemoration



Communicating human trafficking: from understanding to action

T he headlines screamed: “A crime which shames us all”; “Modern slavery”; “Sex slave epidemic”. No doubt reports

on human trafficking make striking news headlines on a fairly regular basis. But how much do people really know about this global phenomenon?

How can governments and other actors encourage a truly sustainable change in the way people think and react to human trafficking? How can people be prompted to take the next steps from awareness to real understanding, then to rejection and reporting? And what is the role of the media in all this?

In South Africa, the government acknowledges that the current legislation is inadequate to combat human trafficking. It has published and is finalizing a new Trafficking Bill, which will provide a comprehensive legal

basis for tackling the problem. In the meantime, the South African

Government has launched Tsireledzani!, an initiative to combat human trafficking. Tsireledzani means “Let us protect” in TshiVenda, one of the country’s official languages. The objective of Tsireledzani! is to ensure that South Africa fully complies with the UN Palermo Protocol – also sometimes called the Trafficking Protocol, to which South Africa is a party – through research, training and awareness-raising activities to prevent and react to human trafficking in South Africa.

The Tsireledzani! initiative is led by South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority. Its partners include the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, UNICEF, the Human Sciences Research Council, the University of South Africa and non-governmental organizations, with funds provided by the European Commission.

ILO’s International Training Centre is in charge of the awareness-raising component and is currently developing targeted communication campaigns to promote attitude and behavioural change related to the human trafficking in South Africa. The project aims to influence specially-targeted groups in selected areas so they are able to prevent, identify and report human trafficking. For more information about the Tsireledzani! awareness raising project, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

ILO

R ealizing women’s rights and achieving the Millennium Development Goals depends

on strengthening accountability for commitments to women and gender equality. This was the conclusion of this year’s Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009 report produced by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Speaking at the launch of the report in South Africa in July, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Stella Anyangwe, highlighted the importance of the report and welcomed the creation of a new Ministry of Women in the country. Ms. Anyangwe spoke about current and impending challenges facing

women, such as the severe impact on gender issues caused by the current financial crisis as well as the likely effects of the World Cup 2010 which could see an increase in women trafficking.

This year’s report focuses on five key areas where the need to strengthen accountability to women is urgent: politics and governance, access to public services, economic opportunities, justice, and the distribution of international assistance for development and security.

The report highlights the importance of strengthening understanding of accountability from a gender perspective and emphasizes key elements required to make ‘accountability work for women’. It underscores the need for stronger

accountability mechanisms to track progress on gender equality in order to meet national and international commitments to women’s rights. By pointing to a number of initiatives and innovations that emerged as a response to meeting gender challenges, the report pays tribute to the efforts of millions of women across the globe.

This year’s launch of the report in South Africa was attended by, among others, UNIFEM Deputy Executive Director Joanne Sandler as well as representatives from the government, civil society, the media, the diplomatic corps, academia and UN agencies.

More information and complete documentation on Progress Report can be found on its Website: www. unifem.org/progress/2008

Who Answers to Women?Gender and AccountabilityUNIFEM


Profile of UN Heads of AgenciesSanda Kimbimbi is the Regional Representative

for Southern Africa of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Mr. Kimbimbi began his career with UNHCR in 1981 as an Associate Legal Officer in the Division of Protection at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. He then served in different capacities both in Geneva and in field duty stations including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Djibouti, Liberia and Cote d’ Ivoire.

Mr. Kimbimbi started his assignment in South Africa as UNHCR Regional Representative for Southern Africa in July 2007.

A national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Kimbimbi holds a law degree from the University of Brussels, an LL.B from the University of Cambridge and an LL.M from Harvard University. He is married and has a daughter.

U NAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé was in South Africa in July on official visit during which he met

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who is the Chair of the South African National AIDS Council, as well as with Health Minister Aaron

Motsoaledi and his deputy, Molefe Sefulare. This was Mr. Sidibé’s second official visit

to South Africa since assuming office. The purpose of his visit was to discuss with the country’s new political leadership key priority areas for South Africa in order to strengthen its national response to AIDS. He also met with prominent private sector stakeholders to explore how they could accelerate their

contribution to the national AIDS response.In his address at the opening of the 5th

International AIDS Society Conference in Cape Town, Deputy President Motlanthe pledged to strengthen the prevention of mother to children transmission (PMTCT) of HIV work in South Africa, emphasizing that Mr. Sidibé had reinforced the importance of virtually eliminating the mother to child transmission. The two leaders agreed that South Africa must dramatically decrease the number of infants infected in order to attain an AIDS-free generation. The UNAIDS chief reaffirmed his support to the AIDS response.

Mr. Sidibé has championed prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV as one of the nine priority areas which have been recently defined in the UNAIDS Outcome Framework 2009 – 2011.

Areas of collaboration that were agreed between UNAIDS and South Africa include: a synthesis of epidemiological and behavioural data on the epidemic which will better inform the HIV prevention strategy; a National AIDS and Tuberculosis Spending Assessment, which looks at sources, flow and expenditure of resources from government, the private sector and the donor community; and the strengthening of action on tuberculosis and HIV.

Mr. Sidibé also visited the Orange Farm Male Circumcision project to highlight the importance of male circumcision as part of a broader HIV prevention programme.

UNAIDS Chief makes second official visit to South Africa

D r. Jonathan Lucas is the Southern Africa Regional Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and

Crime (UNODC). Prior to his appointment in 2004, Dr. Lucas served as Secretary of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs, as well as Secretary to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

In 2002, he served as Secretary to the Plenipotentiary Conference for the Adoption of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.

In addition, Dr. Lucas served as Secretary of the Tenth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and as the Substantive Officer on drugs and crime-related matters to the UN Economic and Social Council and the Third Committee of the General Assembly.

He holds a PhD in Law and Economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies from Geneva.

(ltoR) mr michel Sidibé, UNAIDS executive Director; Dr Aaron motsoaledi, minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa and mr Kgalema motlanthe, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and Chair of the South African National AIDS CouncilG

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